Power-transmitting mechanism



Sept. `7 1926.

M. L. JEFFREY ET--AL POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Filed July 25. 1923 5 She-ets-Sheet 1 4 M. L, JEFFREY bE-r AL Sept. 7 1926 POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Filed July 23, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 nu @Mom elimina# sept. 7 192e. 1,598,823

' M. L. JEFFREY ET ALv l POWER TRASMITTING MCHANYISM 'l Filed July 23, 1925. A5 sheets-sheet s @mvv/Miou;

Wwf.

@Howl ."l

sept. 7 1926.vv

' Filed July 25j 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 WL. f.

w-TMML Sept. 192.6. 1,598,823'.

M. L. JEFFREY E1- AL- l POWER TRANSMITTING MECHANISM Filed July 23. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 En .a

SI1/wanton f 'm f. w. 7,

- W 5mm,

Patented Sept. 7,1926.

UNITED STATES PAT MAX L. JEFFREY AND 1WILLIAM T. NORTON, J'R., OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE UNION TRUST COMPANY, .A CORPORATION OF OI-IIO.

POWER-TRANSMITTING MECHANISM.

Application filed July 23, 1923.

This invention relates to motor vehicles and more particularly to the mechanism therefor.

line object of the invention is to provide an improved power transmitting mechanism capable of transmitting power to the drive wheel of the vehicle effectively and economically, and in which the proper speed reduction may be secured.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of this character in which the diiferential elements and proper speed reducing elements are correlated and combined to transmit the power of the propeller shaft in a relatively eflicient manner, and in which the construction and arrangement of the elements is simplified.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the housing members, differential and speed reducing elements may be readily assembled and disassembled and in which this may be accomplished independently of the relative adjustment of the bearings and speed reducing elements.

Still another object of the invention is to produce an axle construction in which the bearings and speed reducing gears may be adjusted at the factory and the axle may be inspected orv talren apart and reassembled while in service without impairing such adjustment.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a construction in which the differential and all of the speed reducing elements may be removed from the axle housing without disturbing` the axle shaft sections and also in which such shaft sections may be removed or replaced without opening the housing or disturbing the speed reducing' elements.

@ther objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description and annexed drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view, partly in section, showing the axle construction with part of the housing broken away.

Fig. 2- is a view taken on the line 2 2,

Fig. l. showing' half of the axle in sectionand the other part in elevation and partly broken away, the brake actuating mechamsm being shown in a section rotated sub- Seral No. 653,089.

figure.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through one of the covers for the central housing.

' F ig. 4 is a horizontal section through the axle housing showing the axle shafts with the driving gears in section.

Fig. 5 is an inverted elevation of one of the covers of the central housing, the cover being positioned as if it had just been removed from the adjacent opening of the housing in Fig. land turned back on its edge.

F ig. 6 is a vertical section of the housing with the covers removed and showing the large driving gears ready to be removed from the housing.

F ig. 7 is a vertical section on line 7 7, Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section similar to Fig. 2 with the axle shaft partially removed from the housing.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the differential pinions and gears showing the ring and spacing members for holding the bevel pinions in place.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the spac ing member. V Y

Fig. 1i is an elevation of the bearing cage for the short axle section showing the lock-V ing ring for holding the cage in position.

Fig. i2 is a. vertical section of the cage on line 12-12, Fig. ll.

In the drawings, l indicates as an entirety that axle, preferably the rear axle, of a vehicle which may be propelled by a propeller shaft hy suitable power, such as an internal combustion motor (not shown). The elements for transmitting power from the propeller shaft to the rear axle are preferably constructed and correlated to permit the axis of the driving element connected` to the rear end of the propeller shaft to be arranged substantially in axial lalinement with the crank shaft of the motor, whereby the latter said element and the elements constituting the propeller shaft may transmit the power from the motor with minimum friction losses. e

The axle 1 includes a housing which comprises a central portion 2 and a pair of tubular members 3 and t, preferably integral therewith and which enclose the driven axle shafts or sections 5 and 6, the latter being connected to drive the wheels (the hubs of which are shown in Figs. 1 and 2). The tubular members 3 and 4 at their enlarged central portion form the sides, top 7 and bottoni Bof the housing member 2, leaving the front and rear open: ing, the front cover 9 and the rear cover 10, which are of substantially identical construe'- tion, are secured as by bolts 11 ,to the thickened portions ofthey members 7 and 8.

Of the power transmitting and speed reducing mechanism, 12 indicates a driving shaft which has a front end 18 adapted to be" connected in any well known manner, but preferably by a universal joint, to'a propeller shaft (notvshown) to'be `driven thereby. The front or inner end of the driving; shaft 12 extends through the opening14a inthe removable closure 14which is secured tothe front plate 9 by suitable bolts engaging the thickened flange surrounding` the opening; 9.v The closure 14 has a suitable plate 14h secured thereto and surrounding` the shaft 12 to engage suitable .packingin the recess' 14c to prevent leakage of lubricant alone; the shaft. In the rear cover 1() is an openingA1O closed by the closure 16 which may be fastened by any suitable means, such aslbolts, to the thickened flange surrounding` the opening The front and rear of the shaft 12 are suitably mounted in thebearings 17, 17', carried by thersleeves of the closures 14, 16, respectively. The bearings 17, 17 have a slip fit bothwith the closure members and the shaft for a. purpose to be set forth.- The outer races ofthe bearings 17, 17 are located in seats in the closures 14, 16, re-

spectively, andthe inner races engage the (lli ,at 27. 'gears having hubs 29, 29', respectively, posishaft.

'Formed integrally with the shaft 12 are a plurality of studs 20, which extend radially therefrom and on which bevel pinions 21 are mounted for rotation, there being suitable bushings 22 interposed'between the pinions and studs if desired. The bevel pinions are 'held in position in any suitable 23, there beingspacing members 25 superposed between the outer faces of the bevel pinions and the ring.Y These spacing meinbers have a relatively large contact with the substantially flat outer faces of the pinions to Agreatly reduce wear between them so that they do not often become loose. The spaeers 25 are prevented from turning with the bevel pinions due to the flange 26 formed at one'side of the ring and which engages the sides' ofthe spacers.V r n Mounted on the driving shaft 12 isa differential mechanism indicated generally V28, 28 indicate differential bevel To complete the hous,

tioned on the driving` shaft 12, and the gears 2S, 28 mesh with the differential bevel piiiions 21 and are rotated thereby relative to each other in the usualinanner. The hubs 29, 29 are preferably of such length that theirvouter ends are contained within the closures ,16, 14` there beingsuitablc bearings 30, BOinterposed betweentheir ends and the closures, the inner races of such bearings being preferably pressed upon the hubs and the outer rares of the bearings slidably fitting' 'the seats formed in the sleeves of the closures 14, 16 to receive them to permit easy removal of the closures. Inwardly of the bearings 30, 30 and preferably integral with the hubs 29, 29 are formed pinions 31,v 31, preferably of the spur type, the purpose of which will be later described.`

' By mounting the bearings 30.y 30 between the outer ends of the'diferential sleeves or hubs 29, 29 and the closures 141 16 which form` part of the housing' when in position, it will be seen that no portion of the differential sleeves engage the drivingJ shaft except where the differential bevel nears 28, 28 rotate on bushings mounted on the driving'sliaft. As the driving shaft is rigidly carried in the bearings 17, 17 any vibration thereof or any whip therefor will not be transmitted to the outer portions of the differential sleeves or hubs 29, 29', as such vibration will be taken rup by the bearings 17, 17. Also the thrust from the differential bevel gears is transmitted to the bearings 80, 30" and thence'to the housing independently of the driving shaft.

The .closures 14, 16 may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the vdriving shaft 12Vby the interposition of a suitable thickness of shims 27 lbetween the outer flanges Aof the closures 14, 16 yand the front and rear cover plates. By this means the differential gears can be adjusted with re spect to the differential pinions. 1A convenient inspection opening with its closure 110 .may be' provided in the top of the housing 2 for inspection of the differential A y jand itsV adjustment. manner but preferably by an' annular ring` yMounted upon `the inner ends of the vdrivenaxle sections 5, 6 in any desired manner` as by keying, are bevel gears 40,140. Each bevel gear has an 'outer hub portion 41 `splined` to' slidingly receive the inner splined portion of an axle section and is shouldered on its exterior to form a seat for the inner race of the bearing, 41 which is preferablyV pressed thereon, the outer race of the bearing being received in a bearing lcage 42 andextends' as far as the outer shouldery '42a' vof the cage. The in ner flange 43 of the cage 42 engages the` end ofY the inwardly extending annular flange 44 which is preferably Aformed integral with one o f the tubular members 3 or 4 to receive the cage 42. The hub 41 of the'bevel gear 40 extends inwardly to engage a` tubular member 45, there being a bushing 46 interposed between the hub and tubular member to permit the bevel gear 4() to rotate relative to the tubular member, when one driven axle section rotates relative to the other. The tubular member, however, is free to rotate with both of the bevel gears when they are turning in the same direction. [nwardly of the hub of the gear is disposed a suitable bearing 47, and the member is threaded to receive a nut 49 to engage the bearing` 47 and hold the same against the end of the hub. The bearing 47 prevents the transmission of rotary motion from the hub of the gear 40 to the nut 49, thereby preventing the nut from being rotated and loosened when the axle is in service. As a further precaution against turning, the nut 49 is preferably split and clamped together by bolts 48, as shown in Fig. 7.

The gears 40, 40 are thus alined and by tightening the nuts 49, 49, these gears are forced outwardly until the bearings 41a, 41a engage the shoulders 42, 42a' of the cages 42, 42. The means for positioning and holding the gears 40, 40 is thus independent of the axle sections, and the axle sections can be inserted or removed from the hubs of the bevel gears without affecting the adjustment or position of such gears or without opening the axle housing.

The bevel gear 40 is mounted similar to the gear 40 just describedand the primed reference numerals indicate on the drawing the similar parts.

Similarly, the covers 9 and 10 are substantially identical and the construction of only one will be described, the correspondingparts being indicated with reference numerals on the cover 9 and with primed reference numerals on the cover 10.

The cover 9 is preferably dished and reinforced with ribs 50 to strengthen the same and make it sufficiently rigid to carry the supporting member 51 with speed reducing elements thereon comprising a spur gear and bevel pinion 56. Vhile the supports 51, 51 are preferably shafts which rotate with the spur gear and bevel pinion which are suitably keyed thereto, it is to be understood that they can be fixed shafts or axles with the spur gear and bevel pinion suitably mounted for rotation together thereon.

The outer end of the shaft 51 is carried by the closure having an inwardly extending sleeve 52a and between the sleeve and the spur gear 55 is disposed a suitable bearingl 53 which is seated in the sleeveJ and against the shoulder 54 and held ltherein by any suitable locking means, such as a Hat ring 58, seated in a groove" 52b in Jthe sleeve 52a. Preferably the flat ring 58 is a split ring having apertures 58 therein for receiving a suitable tool to rotate the ring in the groove 52b in the sleeve 52L so that the end of the ring will come opposite the opening 52C in the groove 52 as shown in Fig. 11.

The inner race of the bearing 58 engages the outer reduced portion of the hub 59 of gear 55, and is held against the shoulder 60 of said hub by a nut 61 engaging the threaded outer end 62 of the shaft 51, ther-e being a suitable washer 63 interposed between the bolt and the bearing. A suitable bearing 64 is located upon the reduced inner end of the shaft 51 and held thereon by nut 65, there being a suitable washer 66 interposed between the bevel pinion 56 and the inner race of the bearing. The inner end of the shaft 51 and the bearing 64 mounted thereon are supported by rigid support arms 67, 68 secured to or preferably integral with the cover and terminating in an annular ring 69 to receive the bearing. The ring 69 may be flattened on one side, as at 70, for a purpose t be described. The closure 52 is s cured to the cover 9 by any suitable means such as bolts 71, there being interposed shims 72 to secure the proper adjustment and location of the shaft 51 and its gears with respect to the other gearing. A small cap member 73 may be detachably secured to the closure 52 to permit access to the nut 61 of the shaft 51 and for inspection purposes.

ower is transmitted from the driving shaft 12 throughthe differential mechanism 27 and differential bevel gears 28, 28,.re spectively, to rotate them on the driving shaft. rI "he bevel gears drive the spur pinions 81, 31', which in turn drive the spur gears 55, 55', and the latter through the shafts 51, 51 drive the bevel pinions 56, 56, which engage and drive the bevel gears 40, 40 to drive the axle shaft sections 5, 6 which carry the wheels.

The vehicle wheel hubs and their mounting are of similar construction and only one is shown and described. The wheel is indicated generally at 75 and may be constructed in any suitable manner, but preferably comprises a hub 76 to the inner flange of whichmay be secured a suitable brake drum 77. A suitable hub plate 78 is mounted on the reduced outer portion of the hub 75 and clamps a.

wheel structure (not shown) against the hub flange 76a. The inner portion of the hub is preferably tapered, as at 79, to engage the eo'rrespondingly tapered portion of the axle section to center and locate the hub with respect to the axle and to provide a rigid engagement therewith for transmission of the loadof the vehicle to the axle sections. The outer portions 80, 81 of the hubvand axle section, respectively, are each grooved and splined for driving the wheel.` The extreme outer end 82 of the axle section is threaded .Hifi

and carries a nut Swith a suitable washer 84 interposed toholdthevhub 75 securely Y member 3, 4 of the axle housing is a. sleeve 90 which is an extension ot the housing and which serves as a support for the brake elements generally indicated at 91 to engage the brake drum 77 in the usual manner. While the sleeve 90 may be made integral with the housing member 4, it is preferable to have it separate and secure it in any suitable manner, as by means of flange 89 to the flange 8S of the member 4. A dust guard 125 may also be clamped between the flanges 88, 89 or secured toeither one to protect thebrake mechanism inside the brake drum.

Mounted on each axle sec-tion is a suitable bearing cage 92 in which are enclosed suitable bearings 93, 94 to take the load of the vehicle and which will take up thrusts from the wheels. A collar 95 is carried by the axle section and is preferably integral therewith. Against this Vcollar the inner races of the bearings 93, 94kare abutted. The 'flange 92a 'forms the inner end of the cage 92 and engages the axle section and the outer race ot the bearing 93 is pressed into theV sleeve of the cage and abuts this flange. The cap or .closure 96 for the cage is preferably cupshaped and the sleeve 97 is'enlarged at 98 to receivethe outer race of the bearing 94 and to form a shoulder against which said bearing racek may be abutted. Suitable shims 99 may be interposed between the outer flange 100 oit the closure member 96 to provide the proper adjustment for the bearings. The closure is then secured in place to the cage 92 by short bolts 101 around the flange 100 and engaging the body of the cage. Tightening the bolts 101 draws the bearings 93 and 94 toward each other and snuglyup against the collar 95 on the axle section and any desired adjustment may be obtained by the thickness of shims 99 interposed between the closure 96and cage 92. Alternating with bolts 101 are long bolts 102 whichpass through the flange 100 and hold the entire cage 92 against the sleeved casing 90 and positively locate the axle section.

Attentionk is called to the fact that our axle construction may be readily assembled and disassembled without impairing the adjustment of the bearings or parts, as will be more 'fully explained. As will be apparent 'frornlligsv 2 and 8, the axle section can easily vbe removed by simply removing the hub cap S5 and the nut 83 at the end of the axle section and slipping 0H the wheel and brake drum. After this Vis accomplished, the alternate bolts 102 are withdrawn sufficiently to disengage them from the hub 90 t and the entire axle section with the bearings adjustment.

93, 94thereon may be disengaged by simply pulling the axle section out-ward and without. in any way destroying or impairing the adjustment of the bearings with respect to the axle section or wheel as this is entirely controlled by the relation of the closure 96 to the cage 92 and the closure is held thereon by bolts 101 wliichneed not be disturbed to remove the axle section. It is also to be noted that this is entirely independent of 'opening the central portion of the axle housing which can be lett entirely intact for this operation.

Asshown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the front and rear covers 9, 10 may be removed 'from the center portion of the axle housing, carrying with them the short shaftsections 51, 51 with the speed reducing gears and bearings mounted thereon without disturbing their In order to remove the cover 10, for example, with its assembly of gears and bearings, it is only necessary to remove the bolts 11 and then rotate the covery in its plane about the horizontal axis ofthe driving shaft as a center until the -flattened portion 70- of the ring 69 has moved suiiiciently to clear the teeth ot the bevel gear 40', when' the cover can be pulled directly away from' the housing, or, if it be desired, the closure 16fmay be removed by taking out the bolts 16Vb and inserting a suitable pulling too'l in the threaded socket 16a provided for that purpose and pulling'the sleeved closure member 16 outwardly. The bearing` 17 engages both the driving shaft12 and the cover 16 with va slip tit so that it is easily removed and the bearing 30, is pressed on thek outer end of the hub 29 so that it remains there when the closure 16 is removed. With the bearing 17l` removed, the cover 10 can be "moved laterally suiiiciently, to the right in flatter the bolts 16b are out, so that Vthe Vflattened portion 70 of ythe .annular ringV 69 can ypass the teeth ot the bevel gear 40', when the cover can be axially removed. The lateral movement is possible because the removal lofthe bearings between the driving shaft 12 and thel cover leaves an open space between' them.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in addition to the bolts 11 there is at eachend of each of the covers 9 and 10 a combination dowel pin and bolt Yllatofbe received in the dowel pin apertures 11b in the housing. The apertures 11b preferably form the lindexes Jfor the machineworl on the housing and for locating the covers. To secure the covers in place, the dowels 11a are firstinserted and screwed up tight, thereby placing the cover with its gear mechanism in l'proper position relative 'tothe bevel. gears 40, 40', and the bolts 11 arethen inserted to tightlyl hold'the Vcover around its periphery. n

It .will be noted that when the cover 10 has been removed the short shaft section 51 rwith the gear elements 55', 56', their bearings and securing means, are removed with-V out impairing the relative position or adjustment of the parts. Similarly, the cover 9, together with the shaft section 51 Aand its speed reducing elements and bearings may be slid back along the drive shaft 12 away from the housing or may be bodily removed with the drive shaft after the latter has been disconnected from the universal. It is obvious that since` it is only necessary to remove a -tew bolts these covers can be readily removed trom the housing and in a relatively short time.

The bevel gears 40, LlO, together' withv the iilbular shaft ato, maybe readily removed without in any way ai'lecting or disturbing the axle sha'i't sections. This operation is accomplished by unscrewing clamping bolts 1S and unscrewing the nuts 49, 419, so that they move inwardly on the member 45, then sliding the bearings t?, e7 and gears 40, LlO, together with the bearings lll, 41a which are pressed thereon inwardly. lt will be noted, as shown in Fig. 6, that they may be slipped inwardly and sufiiciently so that the outer ends of the hubs clear the inner ends of the axle shaft sections 5, 6, so that the entire assembly can be bodily removed irom the center portion of the axle housing.

A suitable cup 115 having a cover 116 for receiving the lubricant is secured to the cover 1 0, enabling the oil to be introduced through the aperture 117 into the central housing. A drain plug 118 is pro-vided at the bottom oi" the housing to drain the lubricant therefrom when desired. i

ln order to lubricate the axle sections, a suitable conduit 120 leadinginto the sleeve 90 and having an outer nipple 121 for the introduction of lubricant is provided. The bearing cage 92 has anaperture 123 `which registers with the -end of the conduit 120 to receive the lubricant. The drain pipe 126 is provided to allow any excess lubricant in the sleeve 90 to escape.

The minimum cross sectionalarea 5a, Ga of the axle sections, 5, G occur just outwardly from the inner splined portions ot such axle sections. v

Therefore, with ,our axle construction, should one ot the axle sections .be broken in service, the break will most likely occurat the portions 5a or 6, or at least between the bearing cage 92 and the innerend of the axle section, and thus it will be seen that the vehicle can be towed to a desirablelocation `for making repairs. Thus we have incorporated in our construction the advantages ot the type of axle known vas the full floating axle without necessitating` theuse oit relatively large bearings and we also have avoided the disadvantages ot' being obliged to remove the axle shafts. be'lore removing the speed reducing gear` mechanism.

lt will also be seen that our driving pinions and gears are carried by driven shafts, each rigidly and independently supported at each end, which prevents twisting or distortion of the various shafts andk disalinement ot gears relative to their driving pinions.

lt will also be noticed that in our construction the driving shai't and driven axle sections are in diilerent planes and that the speed reducing mechanism is compactly arranged, so that it can be contained in a relatively compact housing which permits a relatively large road clearance. Also, the thrusts of the large bevel gears to drive the axle section are taken up by the bearings engaging such gears and are not transmitted to the axle sections. Furthermore, the heavy road thrusts are not transmitted to the speed reducing gearing but are taken up in the bearings between the axle section and the axle housing. Thus the ditierential mechanism is located so that it is subject only to relatively light strains such the torque ot' the driving sha-ttf ln our axle construction it will be noticed that from the driving shaft the power is transmitted to the dili'erential which is made up or pairs of units and from this point to the axle sections and wheels. rPhe corresponding gears and bearings in the ytwo trains of power transmission are of the same size and substantially identical, so that these parts-are interchangeable, thus reducing the cost of manufacture, increasing the facility or' assembly and having many other advantages well known to those skilled in this art.

Our construction of axle is also applicable to the type of vehicles wherein it is desirable to have the driving shaft beneath the axle sections, as in commercial passenger' vehicles, such as busses and the like. F or this kind of work it is only necessary to invert the present housing and substitute Jfor ,the covers 9 and 410 covers which have the gear supports shifted to the other side of the same face of the cover and rotated 180 so that the flattened portion 70 of the ring projects outwardly as betere. vWhen so pour tioned, the bevel pinion 5G would drive the bevel gear 40 and the 4bevel pinion 56 would ldrive the bevel gear l0 to give a forward motion to the vehicle when the propeller shaft is rotating in the same direction as be fore.

'lhen the axle is thus inverted, it is obv ious that the major portion of the floor ot such a vehicle `can be made considerably lower than when the driving shaft is above the axle sections, and the driving shaft can be inclined upwardly from the housing and connected in the usual manner by a universal joint to the propeller shalt.

It will also be seen that by having Ithe driving shaft extend `from the forward part to therear part of the housing, it may be ilfi iflll tended through the rear, to carry a drum fory brake mechanism, or` one or more additional axle units may be provided as in the case of commercial vehicles having four orV more rear driving wheels. v

Attention is also vdirected Ato the fact that with theconstruction herein Vdisclosed and with kthe housing 'containing the usual amount of lubricant from the enlarged. central chamber only the-relatively slow moving bevel gears project downwardly suflicently into the portion of the chamber to dip into the lubricant. rlhis is of advantage as the viscosity of the lubricant increases the losses and cuts down the efficiency when the speed ofthe gears or the area of the gears contacting with the lubricant is increased. s

The gears 40, 40 moving through the lubricant carry it up into the upper part of the housing Vto lubricate the differential mechanism. Lubricating apertures 122 are provided in the sleeves 29, .29. so that it will be carried Valong the driving shaft 12 to lubricate all parts thereof. However, if desired, a suitable means may be used to directly lubricate the differential from the .lubricant in the housing.

It is to be understood that in this specification the terms spur gear7 and bevel gear are intended to include any type of 2tire not to be limited to the simple type 1ndicated in the drawings. y

From the foregoing description it will be seen that our power transmitting mechanism is relatively simple and provides for the drivingkof the Wheels efficiently with considerable reduction and that the elements thereof may be relatively small toinsurek their easy manufacture, as well as to insure strength and durability.`

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular' forms of apparatus shown and described, and the particular .procedure set forth, are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from our invention as defined in the appended claims. n

What wecla-im is: Y

1. The combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sectionsl arranged end to end therein, a driving shaft mounted in said housing at an angle to said driven axle sections, a differential mechanism and speed reducing gearing actuated by said driving shaft for driving said axle sections, said speed reducing gearing comprising gearing mounted on shafts carried by portions ofthe housing.4 said portions being removable from'the main portion of the housing independently of the axle sections, and gears mounted on theinner ends mounted in said housing,

'Gear to accomplish the purposes and they.

of the axle sections and removable therefrom, whereby said speed reducing gearing is removable from said housing independently of said axle sections.

2. The combinationv in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sections arranged end to end therein, a driving shaft mounted in said housing at an angle to said driven axle sections, a differential mechanism .and speed reducing gearing in said housing and actuated by said driving shaft, independently supportedv shafts carried by portions of said housing and carrying said speed reduction gearing, said housing portions being separately formed and remov- -S' ably secured to the housing, whereby said shafts and lhousing portions are removable from the housing independently of the axle sections. c

3. The combination in driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sections arranged end to end therein, 'a driving shaft a differential mechanism and speed reducing `gearing actuated by said driving shaft and mounted in said housing and including gears on the inner ends ofsaid axle sections, said gears having hubs, bearings mounted between said hubs and annular members carried by said housing, said gears and bearings being bodily removable from said housing independently of said axle sections.

t. The combination in a driving axle of a housing,V a pair of driven axle sections arranged end to end therein, a driving shaft mounted in said housing at an angle to said driven axlesections, a differential mechanism mountedinsaid housing and actuated by said drivingshaft, covers' for said housing each comprisingl a dished, ribbed plate on which a shaft. is carried for rotation, and speed reduction gearing vmounted on said shafts to receive power from said dif ferential mechanism'and transmit it to said axle sections.

5.-The combination in a driving axle of a housing, a driving shaft and a pair of driven axle sections therein, covers for said housing, said coversbeing of substantially identical-construction and each comprising a plate having brace arms` integral therewith', said plate and arms being adapted to rigidly support the ends of a shaft, and speedreducing gearing mounted on said shaft for transmitting power from said driving shaft to said axle sections.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 5 in which the covers, shafts and gearing are removably carried by said housing.

A 7. The combination'in a driving axleof a housing,a driving shaft and 'a pair of driven axle sections therein, removable covers for said housing eachy comprising a plate on whicha shaft is supported, speed reduction gearing mounted on said shafts to receive power from said driving shaft and transmit it to said axle sections, and gears mounted on the inner' ends of said axle sections, said gears being` removable trom the axle sections invfardly, whereby said speed reduetion gearing is bodily removable from the axle housing independently of said driven axle sections.

8. The combination in a drivingaxle of a housing', a pair of driven axle sections arranged end to end therein, a driving shaft niounted in said housing' at an angle to said driven axle sections, a differential mechanism and speed reducing ,gearing mounted in said housing` and actuated by said driving` shaft, independently supported shafts carried by port-ions of said housing and carrying said speed reduction gearing, gears mounted to receive the inner ends of' the axle sections and actuated by said gearing, a supportingY member connecting said axle section `uears, said-.shafts and housingl portions being removable independently ofsaid axle section gears and said supporting member, and said axle section gears being removable troni said housing independently vof said axle sections. Y Y

9. ln a poiver transmitting mechanism the combination With housing, of a driving shaft having differential mechanism mounted thereon, driven axle sections mounted therein and carrying; Wheels at their outer ends, gears mounted in said l'iorsing` to drive said zirctions, front and rear covers for said housing, each of said covers beiuig` detachably secured to said housing' and carrying a gear support, speed reducing' elements i. Iunted on said supports and disposed to receive power from said differential vand transmit it to said gears.

l0. In a peiver transmitting mechanism the combination with a housing, of a driviup` shaft having a differential mechanism mounted thereon, driven axle sections mounted therein and carrying; Wheels at their outer ends, gears mounted to drive said sections, front and rear covers for said housing', each of said covers being' detachably secured to said housing and carrying a driven shaft, speed reducing; elements mounted on said driven shafts and disposed to receive poiverf from said differential and vtransmit `it to said gears. i

ll. The combination in a driving,` axle of a housing', a pair of driven axle sections Varranged end to end therein, a driving shaft mountedin said housing; at an angle to driven axie sections, a differential. mechanism inoiuited on said driving shaft and actuated thereby, independently supported shafts n'iouinedv in said housing', each carryinfr a spurV `gear and bevel pinion, bevel gears connected to the inner ends of said axle sections and engaging with said bevel pinions, and spur pinions mounted on said driv- .i uiens mounted on said sup' gears, said independently supported shafts being' carried by removable covers lor said housing.

l2. The combination in a driving),` axle of a housing', a pair of driven axle sections arranged end tol end therein, a driving shaft mounted in said housing, at an angle to said driven axle sections, a differential mechanism mounted on said driving' shaft and actuated thereby, shafts mounted. in said housing and each rigidly supported at cach end by a removable cover for said housing, gears connected to the inner ends of said axle sections, speed reducing elements mounted upon said independently supported shafts to be actuated by said differential mechanism and to actuate said gears.

1.3. The invention as claimed in claim V.l2 in which said independently mounted shafts may be adjusted relative to said gears independently of the removingi or attaching of the closures to the housing.

lll. rlhe con'ibination in a driving axle of a housing', a pair of driven axle sections arranged end to end therein, a driving' shaft mounted in said housingv at an angle to said driven axle sections, a differential mechanism mounted on said driving` shaft and actuated thereby, removable dished covers to support said driving shaft, each of said removable covers carrying independent supports carrying;` speed reducing elements for rotation therewith to receive power from sait. differential mechanism and transmit it to said vdriven axle sections, said supports being' supported at each end by said removable covers, whereby a rigid construction is obtained.

l5. rthe combination in a driving xle of a housing', a pair of driven axle sections therein, a d 'iving` shaft ymounted in said housing at an angle to said driven axle sections, a differential mechanism mounted on said driving' shaft and actuated thereby, a pair oi. relatively short shafts supported by said housing for carrying' speed reducing; gearing, said shafts beinpj disposed in a different plane from that oit the driving` shaft, each of said shafts beine,` rigidly held at both ends from one side of the housing.y gears mounted on the inner ends of said axle sections for engagement with said speed reducing;` gearing.

lf3. The combination in a driving' axle of a housing', a pair of l"'iven axle sections arranged therein, bevel gars i'nounted to drive sai d sections, a driving shaft mounted @..d hoisnni` and carrying; differential nanism, a pair of independent supports carried by the housing, spur and bevel )rts to rotate lLether, said spur gears me .ng with said er pinions and said bevel pinions meshing with said bevel gears.

lSU

y each rigidly supportedat both ends, spur gears and bevel pinions mounted on said supports to rotate together, said spur gears meshing with said spur pinions and said bevel pinions meshing with said bevel gears, each of said supports being carried by a removable side of the housing.

'18. rlhe combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sections arranged therein, bevel gears mounted to drive said sections, a driving shaft mounted in said housing and carrying differential mechanism, a pair of independent supports 'carried by the housing and having their axes in the saine plane, said plane being a different horizontal plane 'from that of the axis of the driving shaft, spur gears and bevel pinions mounted on said supports to rotate together, said spur gears meshing with said spur pinions and said bevel pinions meshing with said bevel gears.

19. The combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sections arranged therein, bevel gears mounted to drive said sections, a. driving shaft mounted in said housing and carrying differential mechanism, a pair of independent shafts each rigidly supported at both ends by one side of the housing, spur gears and bevel pinions mounted on said supports to rotate together, said spur gears meshing with said spur pinions and said bevel pinionsy meshine; with said bevel gears.

20. The invention claimed in claim 19 in which said shafts have their axes in a different horizontal plane from that of the driving shaft.

21. The combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle vsections arranged therein, gears mounted to drive'said axle sections, a driving shaft mounted in said housing and carrying differential mechanism and pinions actuated thereby, a pair of independently mounted, rotatable shafts each carried by a removable cover forthe housing, said shafts carrying gears to mesh with said pinions and pinions to mesh with said axle section gears. y

rlhe combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sections arranged therein, gears mounted to drive said axle sections, a driving shaft mounted iu said housing and carrying differential mechanism, pinions actuated thereby, a` pair `of rotatable shafts each supported at each end by a cover for said housing and having suitable bearings thereon, said shafts having their axes in a different horizontal plane Vfrom that of tlie driving shaft, and gears and pinions mounted on said shafts to rotate therewith, said gears meshing with said first mentioned pinions and said pinions meshing with said axle section gears.

23. The' combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sections arranged end to rend therein, a driving shaft mounted in said housing at an angle to said driven axle sections, a differential mechanism mounted on saiddriving shaft and actuated thereby, gears mounted on the inner ends of said axle sections to rotate therewith and being slidable axiallythereon, bearings mounted on the hubs of said gears and movable therewith, and a supporting member engageable with the inner ends of said hubs to receive said gears and bearings when they are moved inwardly7 toward each other suthciently for the outer portions of said hubs to be disposed inwardly of the inner ends of said axle sections, wliereby said bevel gears and supporting member maybe bodily removed from said, housing independently of said axle sections. Y

24. The combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sections arranged end to end therein, gears mounted in said housing to receive the inner ends of said axle sections and to drive said sections, said gears Vbeing slidable relative to said sections, be'arings between the hubs of said gears and said housing, means to removably force-said gears outwardly to rigidly position them in said housing, and a driving shaft, differential mechanism and speed reducing gearing mounted in said housing to actuate said gears.

25. The combination in a driving axle of a-housing, ay pair of` driven axle sections arranged end to end therein, bevel gears mounted in said housing to receive the inner ends of said axle sections and to drive said sections, said gears being slidable relative to said sections, bearings between the hubs of said gears and said housing, means to removably force said gears outwardly to rigidly position them in said housing, and a driving shaft, differential mechanism and speed reducing gearing mounted in said housing to actuate said bevel gears, whereby the thrusts from said gearing are not transmitted to the axle sections.

26. The combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axlefsections arranged end to end therein, a driving shaft mounted in said housing, a differential mechanism mounted on said driving shaft and actuated thereby, driving gears at the inner ends of said axle sections to rotate therewith, bearings mounted on the hubs of said gears and means independent of said axlek sections for positioning and holding ffl said gears in said housing, and speed reducing gearing actuated by said driving shaft to drive said gears.

27. The combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sections therein, a driving shaft mounted in said housing at an angle thereto, the inner ends of said axle sections being slidably supported by driving gears carried by the housing, said gears having hubs, and bearings mounted between the hubs and housing, means independent of said axle sections for holding said gears in position in said hous` ing, and speed reducing gearing actuated by said driving shaft to drive said gears.

28. The combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sections therein, a driving shaft mounted in said housing' at an angle thereto, the inner ends of said axle sections being slidably received by driving gears carried by the housing, means independent of said axle sections to rigidly position and hold each of said gears in driving position, said holding means being bodily removable With said gears from the axle housing independently of the axle sections, and speed reducing gearing actuated by said driving shaft to drive said gears.

29. The combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sections therein, a driving shaft mounted in said housing at an angle thereto, the inner ends of said axle sections being slidably received by driving gears carried by the housing, means to aline and rigidly hold said gears in said housing in driving position, said holding means being bodily removable With said gears from the axle housing independently of the. axle sections, and speed reduc ing gearing actuated by said driving shaft to receive said gears. l

30. The combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sections arranged therein, a driving shaft mounted in said housing and carrying a differential mechanism comprising differential pinions and differential gears, said diiferential gears having hubs surrounding said driving shaft, pinions carried by said hubs, the outer ends of said hubs being mounted in bearings carried by said housing and being out of contact with said driving shaft.

3l. rEhe combination in a driving axle of a housing, a pair of driven axle sections arranged end to end therein, a driving shaft mounted in said housing at an angle to said driven axle sect-ions, a differential mechanism mounted on said driving shaft and actuated thereby, gears connected to the inner ends of said axle sections for rotation therewith, speed reducing elements independently supported by said housing to transmit power from said differential mechanism to said gears, said speed reducing elements and differential mechanism being carried byiremova'ble portions of the housing, whereby said speed reducing elements, said gears and said differential mechanism are removable from the housing independently of said axle sections.

In testimony whereof, We hereunto aflix our signatures.

MAX L. JEFFREY. ILLIAM T.V NORTON, JR. 

